BIRTH

The play starts with a scene of Mrs Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald drinking tea
during an afternoon in early autumn. Mrs Fitzgerald is a fortune teller and is
telling Mrs Pearson’s fortune. Both of them have contrasting personalities. While
Mrs Pearson looks pleasant but anxious, Mrs Fitzgerald looks stronger with a
sinister personality. The former is in her forties, and the latter is older.

The conversation starts with Mrs Fitzgerald advising Mrs Pearson to take a stand
and be the boss of her own family. Mrs Pearson replies meekly that it was not that
simple – she was still fond of them even if they were thoughtless and selfish. Mrs
Fitzgerald reminds her that it is not acceptable to be treated the way she was
treated by her children and her husband. Mrs Pearson replies dubiously that she
does try to drop them a hint, and she does not know how to begin. She looks at
the clock and panics, saying they will be home soon and nothing is ready.

Mrs Fitzgerald tries to calm her down and asks Mrs Pearson to put her foot down,
but Mrs Pearson does not seem to be sure about her capabilities. To this, Mrs
Fitzgerald replies that she will do it for Mrs Pearson. The latter denies politely
explaining that her husband and children would resent Mrs Fitzgerald. Then Mrs
Fitzgerald reveals her plan, which involves an exchange of their personalities.
She then takes Mrs Pearson’s hands and chants a spell, after which Mrs Pearson
talks out of Mrs Fitzgerald’s body and vice versa.

Mrs Pearson, who is now Mrs Fitzgerald, sounded alarmed at this transformation
and expressed her fear – in case they were not able to reverse their personalities
into their own respective bodies. Mrs Fitzgerald, who is now Mrs Pearson,
convinced her not to worry and go to her home. She could come back after some
time to check on things. Mrs Fitzgerald hurries back to her house while the real
Mrs Fitzgerald, in the form of Mrs Pearson, waits for the children and husband to
return home from work. She smokes away carelessly, whereas the real Mrs
Pearson has never smoked in her life.
The daughter Doris, a pretty young girl in her twenties, bursts inside the room
asking her mother to iron her yellow silk dress because she is going out for the
night. She notices her mother smoking and starts questioning her. Mrs Pearson
calmy retaliates, saying there is no law against smoking. When Doris asks her
mother if tea is ready, Mrs Pearson informs her that she has had her tea and is
thinking about going for dinner at Clarendon. Doris, who has now become sulky,
reminds her mother that she works hard and Mrs Pearson has always prepared
tea and ironed clothes for her. Mrs Pearson rebukes Doris’s comments and
reminds her that she works twice as much as Doris but gets paid in neither wages
nor thanks. She also goes further to insult Charlie Spence, with whom Doris had
planned to go out in the evening in her yellow dress. Doris is on the verge of
tears.

Mrs Pearson’s son Cyril arrives home after a while and starts asking for tea and
things that he needs for going out in the evening. In a similar manner to how she
put down Doris, Mrs Pearson replies curtly to Cyril’s demands and queries –
implying that she could not care less. She reminds Cyril that everyone in the
family expects her to listen to their rude comments and demands. She has
decided to fight against it just like Cyril goes to the Union in case of any
discrepancies at work.

As Cyril stands there baffled by Mrs Peasrson’s unnatural behaviour, Doris joins
him in the living room. She had been crying, and her mother just aggravates the
situation by telling her that a crying face does not suit her for an evening out with
Charlie Spencer. As Cyril tries to figure out what Mrs Pearson could have
possibly said to Doris, he finds her looking for some stout in the kitchen. Cyril
and Doris talk to each other about the new development in Mrs Pearsons’s
attitude. They find the thought of their father dealing with Mrs Pearson’s
behaviour funnily intriguing and wait for his arrival.

As Mrs Pearson enters the drawing room with her stout, she intercepts the
siblings’ laughter and giggles and reprimands them for not behaving their age.
When Doris asks the reason behind her sudden change in behaviour, Mrs
Pearson replies that all the family members do is come home, ask her for
something and go back again. She also threatens them by saying that her work of
eight hours is done and that she might go for an outing during the weekend.

The husband, George, arrives home and is treated in the same way as Cyril and
Doris. Mrs Pearson also goes ahead to tell him how people at the club called him
‘Pompy-ompy George’. Mrs Fitzgerald enters the house now and is worried about
how Mrs Pearson is treating the family members. She begs Mrs Pearson to stop,
but the latter seems furious at her family’s behaviour and scolds them to learn
some manners. Mrs Fitzgerald asks Mrs Pearson to exchange their personalities
back while Mrs Pearson is intent on doing some more reforms in the family
members’ behaviours. But Mrs Fitzgerald is no longer able to bear it, and Mrs
Pearson exchanges their personalities back.

The original Mrs Pearson starts talking in a pleasant manner while Mrs Fitzgerald
reminds her to be strict. Mrs Pearson thus uses a strict tone with her family
finally, and all seem to be aware of her problems and needs now. Cyril, Doris and
George become polite and understanding in their behaviour towards Mrs
Pearson. She proposes a nice game of rummy and asks them to help her with
supper. Mrs Fitzgerald wishes the family goodnight and leaves the house. The
play ends.

Question 6. What is asphyxia pallida?

Answer 6: Asphyxia pallida is a serious disorder caused by a lack of Oxygen and a high
concentration of Carbon dioxide in the blood. It causes a lack of breathing and pale, whitish-colored
skin. Asphyxia pallida is a major reason for the death of newborn babies and is generally caused
due to complications during childbirth.

Question 7. Who was Joe Morgan, and why was he waiting for Andrew?

Answer 7: Joe Morgan was a large and strong person who worked as a mining dealer and lived in
Blaenelly. He was waiting for Andrew because his wife was expecting a baby, and he needed
Andrew to assist his wife.
Question 8. Write a brief note about Susan’s mother.

Answer 8: Susan’s mother was an older woman, nearly seventy years old. She is tall and
grey-haired. The author described her as a wise and experienced woman. She offered Andrew tea
that he couldn’t leave. She was also closely observing him. She had a great expectation of a
grandchild from her daughter.

Question 9. What was Andrew’s thought regarding marriage?

Answer 9: Andrew had a very optimistic view regarding marriage. Though he remembered the failed
marriages of a few people he knew, he still believed marriage to be a peaceful event. However, the
thought of Christine soon confused his brain. He knew his doubtful mind had put him in this
confusion, but he couldn’t find a way out.

Question 10. Why did a shiver of horror pass through Andrew?

Answer 10: Andrew was called by Joe Morgan to assist his pregnant wife, Susan, who was giving
birth after twenty years of marriage. Both Susan and her mother had a great longing for the child.
Andrew promised Susan’s mother he wouldn’t run away from the patient. When Susan gave birth to
the child, it looked lifeless, and she was in devastating condition. That made a shiver of horror pass
through Andrew as he couldn’t decide whom to assist first.

Question 11. Describe the mental pain that Andrew experienced in the story.

Answer 11: In the story, Dr. Andrew Manson, a young medical professional, was called by Joe
Morgan to assist his pregnant wife. We can learn from Andrew’s remembrance of his confusion
regarding marriage and his existing relationship with Christine. The thought of Christine was
occupying his brain. At the same time, his night awakening for Mrs. Morgan also caused physical
exhaustion. That further made his mind tired.

Question 12. How did the newborn child look?

Answer 12: The newborn child was a boy. He was perfectly formed, and his skin was smooth and
tender. But he couldn’t breathe and apparently looked lifeless. His head was tilting from his neck,
and his limbs looked boneless. He looked extremely pale and white.

Question 13. Why did Andrew decide to wait at Joe Morgan’s house?

Answer 13: Andrew was called to Joe Morgan’s house to assist his pregnant wife at night. Joe’s
mother-in-law feared he might leave because of the long wait and offered him tea. After drinking tea,
Andrew thought that even if he returned, he wouldn’t have an hour’s sleep. So, a lethargy started to
come, and he decided to wait at Morgan’s house and return after completing his task.

Question 14. Describe how Andrew brought the child back to life.

Answer 14: Joe Morgan’s wife, Sofia, gave birth to an apparent lifeless boy. She herself was in a
dangerous condition. After bringing her out of danger, Andrew focused on the child. He couldn’t
accept the fact that the baby was lifeless. He closely observed the baby and recognised the disease
to be asphyxia pallida. He remembered one such case and asked the nurse to bring basins and hot
and cold water. Then, he filled one basin with warm water and the other with cold water. He started
to plunge the baby into cold and warm water alternatingly. After doing this for half an hour, the baby
gave no sign of breathing. For one last try, he started to rub a towel against the child’s chest to
initiate respiration. Suddenly, a miracle happened. The baby began to breathe, his skin changed
from pale to pink, and he cried his first cry. The child’s cry made the nurse sob, and Andrew almost
fainted in excitement.

Question 15. “I have done something; oh, God! I’ve done something real at last.” Why does Andrew
say this? What does it mean?

Answer 15: Andrew was called by Joe Morgan to assist his pregnant wife, Sofia. She gave birth to a
lifeless baby. But Andrew understood that the baby was not dead but was the victim of asphyxia
pallida, a rare disease that occurs in babies due to complexities during birth. He asked the nurse to
bring hot and cold water. He plunged the baby into hot and cold water and rubbed its chest with a
towel. Though the nurse lost hope, Andrew continued the process, and the baby revived. It gave its
first cry. As a young doctor, Andrew didn’t only save the child but the mother and won against the
odds. Thus, he felt he had finally achieved some real success as a doctor.

Saving lives is the biggest duty of a doctor. Here, Andrew, a young professional already lost in
confusion and mental pain due to his relationship with Christine, wanted to prove himself as a doctor.
The revival of the child brought confidence to his heart, and he felt he could win against himself.

Question 16. Describe how the child plays a significant role in the story.

Answer 16: The child played a very important role in the story. The main character, Dr Andrew
Manson, a young professional, was called by Joe Morgan to assist his pregnant wife, Sofia. Andrew,
who was already submerged in the thoughts of

Christine decided to leave Joe’s house after completing his task. Sofia gave birth to a lifeless baby.
That made Andrew horrified. He remembered his promise to Joe and did his best to save the baby.
For Andrew, it became a challenge to win against himself.On the other hand, Joe and Sofia were
expecting their first child after twenty years of marriage. So, they had a great longing for the baby.
Joe’s mother-in-law also deeply wanted a grandchild. Thus, the baby became an important aspect of
everyone’s life. When Andrew successfully revived the child, he felt he had achieved something on
the other hand, Joe’s marriage was saved, and Sofia’s mother’s wish was fulfilled. At the end of the
story, with the child’s cry, a new dawn broke, signifying the beginning of new journeys in each
character’s life.

Question 17. There is a great difference between textbook medicine and the world of a practising
physician. Discuss.

Answer 17: A doctor is one of the noblest professions in the world. The great duty of saving a life is
not done easily. Continuous experience is needed to reach that level. Textbook knowledge is only a
part of the journey. It teaches physicians about different diseases, their causes, and medicines. But
the real application of the knowledge occurs when dealing with patients. And in real encounters with
patients, physicians require much more than bookish knowledge. Courage, observance, strong
nerves, the capability to take risks, and physical and mental energy play a major role in the right
treatment, especially in a serious condition. Herein lies the actual test for doctors. Thus, the process
of being a good doctor takes loads of experience. The motivation to save lives and sympathy for
patients are key factors in being a great physician, and these virtues are not taught in textbooks.
One can acknowledge these needs through their own professional experiences.